People Being Flown In To Pick Crops.....

[Zacs-Master]

Eastern Europeans to be flown in to pick fruit and veg https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52293061

I suppose they have no alternative. Brits will demand wages which would make the produce unsaleable (especially to supermarkets), I assume?

Thoughts?

[Old_Geezer]

Brits might demand prices that make it unsellable unless cheap labour was exploited and the local labour market bypassed.

I don't feel it should be necessary to employ cheap foreign labour but if growers have not found how to attract local labour I can understand a short term continued exploitation of foreign labour. It does seem to contrast sharply with the government's policy on over-restriction of us citizens though. Be interesting to see if they have a valid justification for one rule for us, another for temporary external workers.

[roslyn251254]

Prisoners and/or benefit scroungers should be made to pick the crops!

[Deskdiary]

There we have it - in Gulliver’s mind, all of those who voted to leave did so simply to get shot of foreigners; he’ll be using the ‘R’ word next.

If I had voted to leave, I’d take exception to his view. Thinking about it, as a remain voter I take exception to his view.

[naomi24]

//Be interesting to see if they have a valid justification for one rule for us, another for temporary external workers. //

These would be regarded as 'key' workers, though wouldn't they - so no different from the people who have worked all the way through - shop workers, bus drivers, etc., to keep the country running? I'm happy for the government to bring in workers from Europe.

[Old_Geezer]

Nothing key about them. One can buy on the global market.

[naomi24]

That doesn't sound entirely sensible, OG.

[Spicerack]

I'd say they're key workers.

[naomi24]

Coronavirus: Farmers, farmworkers and vets on key workers list

https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/coronavirus-farmers-farmworkers-and-vets-on-key-workers-list

[dannyk13]

They are key workers as far as the farmers are concerned.

[Spicerack]

Stop producing food in this country and import it all?
a) we're in enough debt already
b) we'd be held hostage

[naomi24]

Danny, they're key workers as far as the government is concerned too.

[anneasquith]

Workers will be tested pre flight and on arrival for covid 19. By tested do they mean temperature taken .?

[Spicerack]

No, anne. They'll be shown pictures of different vegetables and will have to name them.

[brainiac]

All they have to do is fill out a 'health questionnaire' and have their temperature taken, then they are waved through - all 6 planeloads of them. Will they be social distancing in those dorms?

[douglas9401]

As far as I can see there will be plenty of work.
No shortage of vegetables here old fruit.

[tamborine]

It would be cheaper to buy crops planted in eastern europe & develop our brown fields for houses, commerce & leisure.

[LadyCG]

Now that several clothing retailers are going bust - there will be no clothes to purchase soon. Perhaps now is the time to move manufacturing back to this country, particularly following Brexit, seeing as there are many people going to be left without work after this disaster.

[naomi24]

spicerack at 12:32, haha! Very good! :o)

[naomi24]

// Perhaps now is the time to move manufacturing back to this country//

Unless we're happy to give up buying cheap clothes from shops like Primark or New Look, that wouldn't work. It would be cost prohibitive.

[Zacs-Master]

Supermarkets would never allow it either.